Let’s walk together through what Alabama State University really is, according to the official data it reports to the United States government: who studies there, how students get in, how much it costs, who stays, and who does not. By the end, you will understand this piece of the puzzle well enough to place it alongside the other two that only you and your child can fill in: what they want, and what you can afford.
What kind of university it is, and where it stands
Alabama State University is a public university in Montgomery, Alabama, within Montgomery County and its metropolitan area. The federal system that classifies universities places it among institutions that offer doctoral and professional degrees, although—and this matters—that describes the institution as a whole; it does not tell you whether your child’s exact program exists there or whether it connects undergraduate study with graduate study. That must be verified program by program.
There is one fact worth emphasizing: it is a very residential university. Based on information from 2019-20, at least half of undergraduate students lived in institution-owned, controlled, or affiliated housing, and at least 8 out of every 10 studied full time. If your child will live on campus, that is not a minor detail: room and board almost never come in the same brochure as tuition. Ask for them separately before comparing this school with any other.
If your child were considering living at home and commuting every day, there is a simple exercise worth more than any digital map: drive the route yourself on a weekday, at the time they would have class. The real travel time is almost never what the app says.
One final identity fact, and I want to state it precisely because it can be misunderstood: Alabama State University is designated as a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the federal file from 2023. Of 3,012 institutions in that count, only 76 have that designation. It is a fact about origin and mission, not a verdict on quality or on whom it admits today. Do not read it as a seal of approval or as a warning. What does tell you something real is what has a name and a face: what student center exists, what scholarship applies, who answers the phone in April. Ask those questions directly.
The size of the community, and who makes it up
In the most recently reported fall, Alabama State University had 3,870 enrolled students: 3,322 undergraduates and 548 graduate students. It is a medium-sized university—between 1,000 and 4,999 students—and, compared with similar public schools, it falls on the smaller side: 7 out of every 10 similar institutions have more students than it does. Above all, it is a bachelor’s-degree institution.
Within that community, there are more women than men: 64 out of every 100 undergraduate students are women. Adults ages 25 to 64 are a minority, 7 out of every 100.
There is one number I want to tell you without dressing it up: among undergraduates, only 1 out of every 100 students reported being Hispanic or Latino. Compared with 519 selective public schools in this same count, it is among the lowest in the group—9 out of every 10 report a larger proportion. That does not take this university off your list, and it does not put it on it either. It is a fact, not a judgment. If your child will be one of the few, the right question is not “should they go?” but “what exists there for them?”: a student group, a cultural center, someone in the office who speaks Spanish. Talk with a current student before deciding. The number describes the school as a whole; their experience in their program may look different.
Also remember something simple: being large does not mean more options, and being small does not mean more attention for your child in particular. Always ask about the specific program, not the entire school.
How the academic year works, and how broad the offerings are
The calendar uses semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks. The university reported that it accepts credit for AP exams and also what the government calls “credit for life experience”—independent study, work experience, portfolios, licenses, prior certifications, and even military training. It also enrolls high school students in college-credit courses through a formal program.
Here is the part I do not want you to miss: a university reporting that it accepts AP does not mean it gives credit for every exam. It does not say how many points are required or how many credits are awarded, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific program. Ask for the transfer-equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for what can be studied: in the most recently reported year, the university awarded 475 bachelor’s degrees across 18 program families. No single one takes a large share—not even business and administration, the most popular, which represents only 17 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. It is a broad offering, without a single dominant specialty. Compared with similar schools, it does fall in the quarter that awards the fewest total degrees per year. Note: 18 families with reported data does not mean 18 active programs or 18 with degrees awarded; some rows may report zero. Verify the exact program your child is interested in, not the general category.
Regarding class size, there is one number that helps but does not settle the question: the university reports 16 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. It is a middle-range figure, neither among the lowest nor the highest among similar schools. But this number does not tell you the actual size of a first-year class; it is an institutional average, not a classroom.
It is worth mentioning that the institution reports structured opportunities beyond the classroom: study abroad, developmental education for credit, and preparation and certification paths for people who want to teach. Their being reported confirms they exist as programs; it does not state capacity, cost, or whether your child would qualify.
Getting in: what the door requires, and what happens after crossing it
Let’s start with the essentials: Alabama State University does not have open admission. Review specific pieces before saying yes. Of nine possible considerations, it marks five as required: the high school record, grade-point average, personal essay, work experience, and English-proficiency examination when applicable. That means your child has to write an essay. It is not optional here. Outside the required items, only one more thing counts if applicable: whether someone in the family studied there. If that is not your case, do not spend energy on it—spend it on what is actually in your child’s hands.
The undergraduate application fee is $30.
Now, the figure you were probably expecting: of 5,346 first-time applicants, the university admitted 5,113. That is 96 out of every 100. It is among the universities that admit the most students among 519 comparable selective public schools—9 out of every 10 in that group admit a smaller proportion. Even so, 233 applicants did not receive an offer. Put simply: your child’s energy goes further by completing the application well and meeting deadlines than by worrying about competing for a spot.
But here is a hard truth I do not want to soften: being easy to enter says nothing about the price or whether most students finish. Before deciding, you need to look at net price and the graduation rate. Those two calculations matter more than the admission calculation.
And there is another number that deserves your full attention: of every 100 admitted students, only 19 enrolled here. The other 81 had a place and did not take it. It is a common proportion among similar schools—neither high nor low. Do not read it as a stain: the federal record does not explain why each person made the decision they made. What does matter is that other people’s decisions do not predict yours. Wait for your letter showing the real net price before deciding whether this school stays on the list.
On testing: the SAT and ACT are optional. Only 9 out of every 100 enrolled students submitted SAT scores, and among them, the middle half scored between 444-538 in reading/writing and 421-531 in mathematics. These are data from students who were already enrolled and chose to submit them, not a minimum or a guarantee for anyone else.
One more piece, uncomfortable but necessary: of the cohort that entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, 33 out of every 100 transferred to another school without completing here, within the standard time frame. It is a high proportion compared with similar schools. The report does not say why they left, and something important: someone who transfers does not count as an Alabama State University graduate, even if they finish their degree somewhere else. Keep that fact in mind when you read the graduation section later.
The cost: two prices, and the gap between them
At Alabama State University, among 174 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid, paid the in-state or district tuition rate, and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $13,512. Among 33 students in the same population with family EFC income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $15,155; among 7 students with family EFC income above $110,000, it was $11,863. For dependent students, the band adds their parents’ income and their own.
The higher-income band, calculated with 7 students, ended with an average of $11,863, below the $13,512 calculated with 174 students in the lower-income band. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $13,504.
Among the 519 schools of the same type and control included in this count that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this one falls in the most expensive quarter for lower-income families. That does not mean it should be ruled out. It means you need to ask for the aid letter before deciding.
That the higher-income band comes out below the lower-income band is unusual, and it does not mean your family will have the same result. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or district rate. The overall average with grants, when it appears, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. Run the school website’s net-price calculator using your real numbers.
Financial aid and debt: what is common here, not a promise to you
Almost everyone receives something: 96 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some grant or aid that does not have to be repaid, averaging $10,199 among those who received it. The federal Pell Grant, aimed at low-income families, reached 72 out of every 100 students.
That high number is not a promise to your child. It describes what happened to other students in a specific year. Ask in writing what applications must be completed, the deadlines, and what happens to the grant if their grades fall.
Now the debt part, stated plainly: 78 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan, averaging $8,424 among those who received one. It is among the universities with the highest proportion of students with loans among comparable schools. If your child borrowed something similar each year for four years, the accumulated total would be around $33,696, not counting interest—and that number is decided before the first signature, not at the end.
That average does not include Parent PLUS loans, bank debt, or credit cards, and it is not the total debt someone has when they graduate. That borrowing is common here does not decide whether your child will need it. That depends on their real aid letter and on the gap between net price and what you can pay. If debt appears in the offer, ask for the estimated monthly payment before accepting it.
As for ways to pay: the university reports a tuition installment-payment plan and participation in a Promise program.
Campus life, sports, and supports
Alabama State University has institution-controlled housing, and it does not require all first-time students to live there—but that does not mean no program requires it; you need to ask. The reported maximum capacity of institutional housing is 2,079 students. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. Ask in writing for the year’s rate, the deadline to apply for housing, and whether you are guaranteed a place or placed on a waiting list.
There is an ROTC opportunity, but only the Air Force branch appears confirmed in writing; Army and Navy do not. If your child is interested in another branch, ask directly—not confirmed is not the same as impossible.
The university competes in intercollegiate sports and is affiliated with the NCAA, with reported membership in football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. That is institutional membership, not a guaranteed place for your child. If they are interested in playing, write directly to the coach for that sport and ask about division, roster space, and athletic scholarship.
There is distance education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Only 6 out of every 100 undergraduate students take all their courses at a distance; the rest take at least one in-person course. The university reports offering at least one fully online program—confirm the exact level and program if that is what you are seeking.
The library has hired staff, physical and digital materials, interlibrary loan, and annual spending above the threshold the government records. That confirms that a serious operation exists, not that it has the specific databases for your child’s program—that must be asked by name.
Finally, the university reports combined academic and career counseling services, employment services, placement services for graduates, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military personnel, a student veterans organization, and a published services page for people with disabilities.
Persistence and graduation: the part you have to look at without blinking
I am going to say this as clearly as possible, because this is the part of the map where many families get distracted by looking at the entrance door instead of the whole path.
Of every 100 students who entered for the first time, full time, in 2022, 60 were still enrolled or had already graduated one year later. It is among the lowest rates among comparable selective public schools—9 out of every 10 in that group retain a larger proportion. The figure does not separate who is still studying from who has already graduated, nor does it explain what happened to the rest. Not appearing as retained does not mean someone gave up: they may have transferred, paused, or begun working. The figure reports the result, not the cause.
And the central graduation figure, stated plainly: of 951 students who entered a bachelor’s program in 2017, full time, with no previous college experience, 287 graduated here six years later—30 out of every 100. At four years, the time frame most families budget for, the figure is only 13 out of every 100. Compared with similar schools, it is at the bottom of the table: 9 out of every 10 similar schools graduate a larger proportion.
What happened to the other 664? The exact breakdown: 313 transferred to another institution without completing here (remember: transferring does not count as graduating here, nor does it confirm they graduated elsewhere), 35 were still enrolled without finishing within the time frame, and 316 fell into the federal category of “no longer enrolled”—a category that does not explain the reason and may include people who finished after the measured time limit.
The gap of 17 points between year four and year six is real and worth keeping in mind when budgeting: before signing, ask in writing how long the program your child is interested in usually actually takes, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if the path takes longer.
There is one final piece, the most complete one: following a cohort that entered between 2015 and 2016 (including part-time students and students with prior experience), at the eight-year mark 33 out of every 100 had a degree or certificate from this school. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure was 30 out of every 100—ten points below the group without Pell. Compared with similar schools, it is also at the bottom of that table.
I will not soften this number for you, because softening it does not help anyone. But I will not tell you it defines your child either. This figure describes what happened to a large group during a specific period; it is not their destiny. What you can do with this information is ask, very specifically, at the university itself: what adviser will be assigned to them? What emergency help exists if something becomes complicated halfway through? Does the grant renew automatically each year, or must they qualify again? And ask for those answers in writing.
How this looks together
Alabama State University is a public, HBCU, medium-sized, very residential university, with an entrance door that is almost always open and broad academic offerings without a dominant specialty. It is also a university where the published price is low compared with others, but where the net price for lower-income families is more expensive than at similar schools, where most students borrow, and where the proportion of students who graduate on time is among the lowest among its peers.
None of these facts, by itself, decides anything. Together, they form one of the three pieces you need to build a real plan. The other two—what your child wants to study, what they have built so far, and what your family can pay without compromising what should not be compromised—are yours alone.
If this university remains on the list, you now know exactly what to request in writing: the AP credit evaluation, the aid letter with the real net price, the estimated monthly payment if there is a loan, and the real time it takes to complete the program your child is interested in. No one but you can resolve that, with these data on the table.
Source note: the information in this article comes from official reports from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the United States Department of Education, corresponding primarily to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, as indicated throughout the text. Best College Aid does not represent Alabama State University or any government agency; this article does not replace direct verification with the university before making decisions.